Cristian Manfredini at Garda School: Soccer, Careers, and Personal Insights
“Which footballer do I look up to? Zanderigo, of course.” A moment of surprise followed by a loud laughter. It’s difficult, after all, to remain impassive at Cristian Manfredini’s bold statement, the unmatchable star of the debate held at the scientific high school of Garda. Next to him was the “famous” Alessandro Zanderigo, school representative who, along with Francesco Rizzi and the principal of the Carnacina institute, Armando Gallina, challenged the well-known Chievo player. An engaging assembly that highlighted, on one side, Manfredini’s friendliness, straightforwardness, and availability, and on the other, the strength and skill in questioning demonstrated by the young students. A genuine, filter-free exchange of questions, spontaneous and direct, with zero dead moments. A series of curiosities, jokes, and provocations delivered with courtesy and a camaraderie that made it seem like a conversation among acquaintances. A positive spirit hovered for over an hour in the main hall of the Garda school, thanks to the left-wing brilliance of the seemingly miraculous Chievo, able to provide precise answers, never evasive or empty as often seen on TV or read in newspapers. “Because of players but also journalists asking trivial questions,” emphasized Sandrelli, the rebellious-haired professor, who remained thrilled by the simple, pragmatic philosophy of the 26-year-old player born in Port Bouet, Ivory Coast, and adopted at age five by the Manfredini family from Battipaglia. A 360-degree dialogue with no clear guiding thread, a free chat spanning from Del Neri’s schemes (“not difficult, but if you screw up, the coach gets angry like a beast”) to the recent derby, to the most important goal (“the one against Cosenza last season”), and to Manfredini’s future (“I always aim for the top”). Among many curiosities was also the upcoming team retreat. Will San Zeno di Montagna still host the Diga squad? “Del Neri is very superstitious. If we survive, I am sure, Chievo will be back at San Zeno,” Manfredini replied. The most anticipated and predictable question about racist chants could not be missing. “Yes, I expected the chants against Verona, but excuse me, I refuse to answer. The reason is simple: better to ignore idiots. I am attached to my birth country, I do not deny it, but I consider myself fully Italian, to the point that I see myself… as white.” After a laugh, he continued to satisfy the curiosity of those present. “As a kid, I wanted to become an engineer. When I was told I had too much studying to do, I gave up. However, I managed to earn a diploma as a surveyor. I scored 42, and believe me, it wasn’t easy balancing studies and training with Juve. My parents introduced me to football to socialize with other kids, and at thirteen, I left home to pursue a career as a player. It wasn’t easy to leave my mom and dad. To succeed in this environment, you need more than talent; you also have to give up many things, like going out at night. Of course, I don’t complain, and I am aware of the professional advantages. The players’ salaries? They aren’t fair if compared to the average worker’s wages, but when related to the football world, the story changes. Honestly, I hope in the future to earn the figures that my more famous colleagues currently take home.” Before leaving the high school to greet students at the Bardolino hotel management institute, he offered his final cheeky proposal. “This sheet shows the Verona team that played in the derby,” Filippo explained with an innocent face. “Could you give me your autograph and write ‘Forza Hellas’ on it?” A seemingly grim look, then a dribbling move by a champion, two cheers scrawled on the sheet: one for Chievo, the other for Verona.
